Combination article of furniture



F. C. HALL.

COMBINATION ARTICLE OF FURNITURE.

APPLICA'HON FILED APR. 23' 192i.

Patented May 16,1922.

UNEFEZE STATES FRANCIS CADWALADER HALL, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

COMBINATION ARTICLE OF FURNITURE.

remote.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mjay 16 1922,

Application filed April 23, 1921. Serial No. 63,873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, F RANOIS C. HALL, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, a citizen of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Articles of Furniture, of which the following is a specification.

In making my invention, I have had in view the special requirement of libraries in regard to giving ready access to books on shelves, and transporting or trucking books around, as from tables upon which they may accumulate, to the alcoves for restoration to their shelves, and having this in mind, my invention consists in an article that combines the functions of a step ladder and stool or seat, and a truck, its construction being such that it may efiiciently discharge these various functions. My invention consists in the article of furniture constructed as described by or included within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an article embodying my invention arranged for use as a step ladder;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section illustrating a different embodiment;

Fig. 3 is a detail view in section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail View in perspective of one of the rollers or casters.

The structure shown in the drawings com prises four equi-distant legs, 10, that converge towards the top where they support a board, 11, that serves as the top step of the structure when used as a step ladder and also as a book holder, for which last named purpose it has at the back and partially at each side a rim or flange, 12, which serves to confine books placed thereon especially when the article is tilted backward to the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, when it is used as a truck for transporting books. At about mid-height, as shown in Fig. 1, there is a step, 13, that projects forward a short distance from the pair of front legs and level with the steps are parallel slats, 1%, that extend from side to side between the legs resting at their ends upon cross bars,

' 15, that are joined to each pair of side legs,

- 10. is shown resting upon said slats, 14, and the Still referring to Fig. 1, a board, 16,

step which is capable of being slid outward from the position shown in Fig. 1 so that its front "edge extends considerably beyond the frontedge of the step, and thus an adequate surface to forma seat is provided, a seat so located being desirable for the comfort and for the avoidance of fatigue in stooping, ofone taking books from or re. turning them to shelves near the floor or that are low down. The opposite edges of said seat are overhung by guide rails, 17, so that the seat is securely. kept in place and supported even under the weight of a person sitting on the projecting portion thereof. Books may be piled upon the seat between the legs, and to confine them therein, the legs at the side and back are connected by parallel slats, 18, spaced at suitable intervals. As shown in Fig. 2, the seat, 19, may be placed immediately below slats, 20, corresponding with the slats, 14c, and slidably rested upon guide cleats, 21, at opposite sides, and in this case no step corresponding to the step, 13, need be used, but the projecting portion of the seat may serve as the mid-height step. In this case the books will rest upon the slats, 20. An advantage of having the board below the slats, 20, is that when books are piled on the slats, 20, they will not be disturbed by sliding the board nor will sliding the latter be rendered inconvenient. Near the bottom of the legs there is a horizontal platform of parallel slats, 22, resting upon cross bars, 28, extending between the front and rear legs, and above such platform are spaced slats, 24, at the sides and back, which provide an enclosure, whose bottom is said platform, in which books may be placed. It will be seen that I provide three places at different levels for the reception of books so that a large number of books may be piled on the article, and as wheels or rollers, 25, are attached to the rear legs at the bottom, the structure by being tilted over to the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, may be readily moved about afterthe fashion of a truck. To facilitate manipulation and movement for trucking, I attach to the back a vertical bar, 26, with a cross piece, 27, at the top that constitutes an excellent handle, and such bar and cross piece are also useful in enabling a person to maintain his balance when climbing on the steps, to. do which it is merely necessary for him to rest his hand upon the cross piece.

To facilitate loading and unloading books, it may be desirable temporarily to sup Jort the device in the position shown in Fig. 2, and I therefore pivot to the back thereof near the top a prop 28, which has a forked lower end with the forks tipped with rubber feet 29, to prevent slipping. Said prop. when opened out to the position shown in Fig. 1, is braced and held thereat by a hinged brace :30, pivoted at one end to the bar, 26, of vell known construction which p rmits the prop to be folded up against the back of the article when the prop is not to be used.

i l hat It claim is:

An article of manufacture comprising four legs arranged at the respective corners FRANCIS CADWALADER HALL. 

